Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of July 27.

Let's get started with project updates:

• Officials with the Georgia Department of Corrections held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for nine new off-site-constructed modular buildings, adding 504 maximum security beds and 20 medical beds to the system.
• The Florida Department of Corrections broke ground on two new modular medical facilities at Lowell Correctional Institution and the South Florida Reception Center, expected to open in 2027.
• Summit County, Ohio broke ground on a roughly $3.9 million intake and medical assessment expansion at the county jail.
• The $14 million Cole County, Mo., Juvenile Center project is on track for completion in March 2027, according to Nabholz Construction.

Moving on to legislation and funding:

• The South Fulton Municipal Regional Jail Authority in Georgia authorized the issuance of bonds to support Fulton County's proposed $1.36 billion, decade-long jail overhaul.
• Commissioners in Union County, N.C., unanimously approved placing a $200 million jail bond referendum on the November 3rd ballot.
• Voters in Clark County, Wash., will consider a $366.2 million bond in November to renovate and expand the county jail and add courtrooms.

Next in people news:

• STV has named Codi Newsom Vice President and Justice Market Pursuit Leader within its National Buildings Group.

And now for this week's construction reports:

• Fulton County, Ga., is seeking proposals from design, architectural and engineering firms for a new 1,800-bed, 780,000-square-foot special-purpose detention facility, with proposals due August 27.
• Construction Manager J.H. Findorff, on behalf of Portage County, Wis., is seeking bids for work on the new $70 million Portage County Jail and Law Enforcement Center, with bids due August 13.
• San Patricio County, Texas, has issued an RFQ for a design-build project to construct a new 400-bed county jail, with submittals due August 13.
• Scotland County, N.C., has issued an RFQ to architecture and engineering firms to conduct a feasibility study for a new 250-bed detention facility, with bids due August 14.

And finishing up with events:

• The American Correctional Association's 156th Congress of Corrections, the Correctional Leaders Association's Summer Conference and the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators' Summer Juvenile Justice Leadership Forum will take place concurrently in Pittsburgh from July 30 through August 2. Visit the Correctional News team at booth 515 in the ACA exhibit hall.

For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.